Toy computing device and number-revealing game



April 17, 192s.

E. C. DES ENFANTS TOY COMPUTING DEVICE AND NUMBER REVEALING G-AIIE Filed Aug. 9. 1926 Patented Apr. 17, 1928..

' UNIT-EDSTATES: PATENT OFFICE- nannsfr c.v Das ENFANTS, orf CHICAGO, ILLINorsQAssIGNoR ro'J. n. .CARROLL com- PANY, or cHIcAeo,.1LL1Nors,

A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

`'roY COMPUTING DEvIcE Ann NUMBERmEVEALINe-j GAME. Y

Application mea-Augusts, 1926.-"ser1a1 Nolizsaee;

This invention. relatesV to computing devices or number-finding and'revealing games in which a sheet, card'or tablet, orsimilar stationary member -is provided, having; a series ofl correlated groups or columns .of mnnbers thereon, and having one or more inovableor rotative' members adapted to be employed in the operation, trick or .game otf iindingand disclosing, 0r revealing a number which corresponds V'or is videntical withany predetermined corresponding se'- lected number 'contained in such series of correlated groups kof numbersA and which may be selected as the number to be found and disclosed, or the equivalent of which is to be, found andvdisclos'ed ory revealed.

The principal object of the invention. is to provide alsimple, economical, compact and eiiicient computing device, or number-findingandrevealing game adaptedltov. be used for linding and disclosing the ageoi a person whose` age may be unknown to the operator.v and more particularly to provide such ag device ywhich is Vlight `and `compact and adapted to be. readily and conveniently in.r

closed in an envelope. and transported yby mail, or other\vise,.and which is suitable for use as an advertising novelty, or for adver tising or other purposes;

Other and further ob'ects of the inventionl will appear from the ollowing description and claims,andxirom aninspection of the accompanying' drawings, which are made a part hereof.

The. invention yconsists in the features, combinations, and elements, and in the construction and arrangement of partsA herein.

of said wheels being shown in dottedlines;A

Fig. 3 is a view inside elevationyor edge view. of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in transverse section` taken on line A4 4: of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

ln constructing an improvedv computing device, or number ascertaining and revealing gameand device for playing the same, in ac'- cordance with my invention, I provide a sheet, card .or tablet 1, which. is, by preference,-formed of cardboard,v or other ,suitable ksheet material, and may consist of ai sheet which is bent to form two leaves, suoli for example, as a front'sheet, leaf or tablet Q, and aback leaf 3. `The front and back leaves may be connected at one margin 4, if

desired, yand folded along the said margin lso that the front and back leaves are exibly connectedand formed in one integralpiece,

and provided with a space 5 therebetween. The" opposite extremities of the front Aand back leaves 2' and 3 are, by preference, connected by means of one or more pivots or eyelets 6, (i, which maybe formed of metal orv other suitable material, each of said eyelets being langed at'its opposite ends, so asto holdtheleaves 2 and 3 through which the `eyelets extend, in position. .The eyelets 6, 6, alsok serve as Supporting pins: orr axles 'for rotatively supporting a lpair of computingor number 'wheels or disks 7 and 8 which are rotatively mounted on said eyelets 6,6, between the front and back leaves 2 and 3. Eachofthe rotative wheels or disks 7 and S is located between and adapted to project outward beyond opposite. curved marginal portions of the front and back leaves 2 and 3. The wheel 7 is'located between a curved marginal portion or rounded corner 9 olf the front leaf 2 and a similarly curved orrounded corner marginal portion 10 of the back leaf 3. And the wheel 8 is located vand adapted to rotate betweenv a curved or rounded corner marginal portion 11 of the front leaf 2 and the opposed rounded corner inarginal portion `12 of the back leaf 3.

The rotative wheels or disksv 7 and 8 are each provided with a. series of peripheral marginal vnotches 13, by preference, ten of said Vnotches for eachwheel, all of said notches project outward beyond theA outer `curved corner marginal portions 9 and 10, and 11 andy 12,.into`position to permit the end of the linger or` linger nail of the operator to be inserted in'said notches respectively, in

il l) all any desired order, in the operationof turningl the Wheel or Wheels and stopping them as required. And marginal notches yor recesses and 16 are provided in the opposite side edges oli' the -front lea-'f 2 and back vleaf 3 at the lower outer extremities ofthe curved or rounded corner marginal portions 9, 10, 11 and 12 respectively, and vare adapted to engage and serve as stopsV for: stopping the linger of .the operator .in position to cause the adjacent computing Wheel or disk to stop in proper position as required, 'Whenever the Wheel or Wheels are rotated or partially rotated intermittently or in `a stepby-step manner inthe ogeration of the device. Y

' The sheet, card or tablet 1 is provided with a series of correlated groups or columns of numbers 17, 19, 19, 20, 2l, 22, 23, 24, of which there may be any desired number. In theform of the device shown in the draW- ings there are eight groups or columns; and they lare each j iroviiiled with an individual distinguishing` mark or letter at the top of each group or column respectively, for eX- ample? Ajay 44B, C517 D577 E, In, G and E, in lpredetermined order.

The curved or rounded corner marginal portion 9 of the liront leaf 2er tablet is provided with a series of equally spaced lmarginal 'graduation marks 17', 18, 19', and each having an individual distinguishing mark or character, for example A, B, C, and D, in their order, corre spending with columns'or groups ofnumbers having like individual distinguishing marks or letters above described.

rlhe curved or' rounded corner marginal portion or segment 11 ofthe front leaf 2 or tablet 1, has a similar series Vof equally spaced marginal graduation marks 21', 22', 23, and 2li', each having an individual distinguishing mark or character Which is, by preference a duplicate of and corresponds with a like distinguishing mark or character of a corresponding column or group, for eX- anllale, GEEN. lr7 6G27? n11dtl, Order shown in the drawing.

Each of the rotative computing or number y Wheels 'i' and 8 has a series of numbers theref on, said numbers being, by preference, on the backs of the Wheels and facing toward and adapted to be normally covered and concealed by the back leaf 3, cach of said numbers being adjacent to and corresponding with a peripheral notch 13,' or a peripheral projection 14- on the same Wheel.

The series of numbers on the vvlieelor disk 2" is indicated by the reference number 25; and the series of numbers on Wheel 8, by the reference number 26. Each oi said series of numbers and 26 includes, by preference, the ten digits l, 2, 3, 4, 5,

6, 7,8, 9, 0, arranged in ya circle in consecutive numerical order.

The back leaf 3 has an opening27 there in across Whichthe numbersfcontained in the series 25 on Wheel 7 are adapted to move as said` Wheel is rotated intermittently, or in a step-by-'step manner, said opening ybeing rotated at the reading position for said numbers, and adaptedto uncover and expose any number in said series which is moved vto and permittedto stop Within said opening,

and particularly any number Which is to be readwnr ascertainedand revealed, for yexample, the number 9, as shown in Fig. 2. Asimilau opening` 28V through the back leaf i is formed, adjacent to the opening 27; and across this opening 28 the numbers contained in. the series of numbers 26 .are adapted to move in .successive order as theWheelSvis rota-ted,intermittently or in. a step-by-step manner, said opening 28 being located at and adapted to indicate thereading position for said numbers on wheel 8,2and being adapted to uncoveiand expose Vany number in said series in the order in Whichit is moved to and permitted to stop Within said opening, and particularly any number which is to beread or ascertained and revealed, for ez;-v ample, the number 5 as shown injFig. 2.

The series of numbers onv fthe movable or columns of numbers on the stationary titl member or-tablet, as Well as the identifying letters or characters` at the tops of the groups` and the correspondingI lettersand lgraduation marks on the front leaf 2 of thetablet 1, are correlated, although'the eX- tent. and character of the relations vof thesevariouselements, and particularly the relationof the movable numbers'on the rotative wheels to the groups of stationary numbers and characters, and to the individual num-V bers in said groups .is not so obvious and is not intended to be so obvious as to be readily recognized and understood upon a mere Asuperficial inspection or Without giving the matter some consideration. It is believed, however, that a brief explanation of the game and of the device and its op eration will enable the invention and the relation of said elements to be readily understood.

The rotativeV Wheel T and the numbers thereon are related to all of the groups or columns oli-numbers on the stationary sheet or ktablet 1, but more particularly tothe four groups or columns which are identified by the letters Af 'B, C and 1), respectively, and which constituteone series of groups or. columns.

The numbers 1`,f23, and Lle, on the rotative wheel -7 may be considered as constituting imlividual group-distinguishing title numbers by which said four groups constituting said series are individually represented and numbered in consecutive numerical order which, in the form of the device here shown.

`1,666,641 fr Yz3 .corresponds Vwith lthe lalphabeticalorder and relative positions of said groups so numbered although the relative positions of the groups and of the characters and marks on the stationary member Aor tabletvmay be changed-or arranged in any desired orderV provided each stationary group or column of numbers is correctly represented dby its proper titlevnumber orinovablenumber on the proper compu-ting Wheel. f,

.The movable computing member or rotative number Wheel 8 and the series ot' num` bers thereon are related to all of thefgroups or columns .of numbersv ontli-e stationary tablet l, or front leaf Zot' said tablet, but more particularly to the fourv groups or co1- uinns which are distinguished from eachy other or identified by the letters E, 3F,V

G and l-l, respectively, and which constitute another or secondrseries ot' tour cor-` related groups or lcolumns of numbers which contain two-digit @numbers but nol singledigitnui'nbers, the single digits on the tab-yl Jroineach other and numbered in consecutive numerical order.. The numerical order inthis instancecorresponds with the alpha-p.

betical order and relative positions of said groups; but the alphabetical order and relative lpositions of the groups on the tablet.

may be altered or arranged as desired, providedv the correct relation ot' the movable group-distinguishing or title numbers on the movable or rotative computing-` wheel or Wheels with respectto the groups which the titlenumbers represent is preserved.

The correlated groups or columns of numbers on the stationary member or tablet 1 in clude.bypreference, all of the numbers from l to 99 inclusive, some of which are contained in one group or column only, and others of which are contained in each of a vplurality of said groups or columns. And the series of numbers on the Wheels 7 and Smay or may not contain numbers which numerically distinguish or represent the related groups ot' numbers, or the fnumerical order of arrangement of said groups; but it is believed that the invention and the operation ol the device can be more readily and clearly explained and understood by con sidering the groups or' columns on the tabletV as being represented, theoretically if not actually, by corresponding numbers on said Wheels, as above indicated- :The first four correlated groups,y lettered A, 13, C, and 1), respectivelyy contain all of thesingle ldigits or single-digit numbers, and some ofthe two-digit num;v

bers; and-the second 'series of four groups, lettered fil, Ff-G and H, respectively .contain vtwo-di git numbers ,-only, the lowest number rbeing 10,y and the highestbeing, bypreference, 99, although less Vthan v innetyfnine numbers may,y of course, be em-v ployed if desired;

,'llievrrotative computing rWheel 7 is `the units Wheel, `andthe ten movable numbers or digits thereon are of the units7 denomination, and :are tobe lso computed `and read when moved to and stopped in readingposition Within the openii'ig27 in the back leaf 3, which is units yplaceor 'reading position for numbers ofthe units denomination..

The rotative computing Wheel 8. is the tensv wheel, andthel ten movable digits thereon are'of the tensdenomination,V and are to be so computed, and read When moved to and stopped in reading positiony Within, the .opening 28 in said back leaf, 'which is tens7 place, or reading' position forr numA bers of the tens,denomination.

Each single-digit numberA inthe corre-v lated groups or 'columnsot vnun'ibers on,V the stationarymember or tablet l is contained in .agroup or in each `of a 'plurality of groups or columns theccorrespondingnumbers or group-distinguishing numbers for which,

when addedtogetlier, Will producev or equal.

that number, and 'in no other `group or column.-v And every ,such number so to ber foundor produced and revealed in reading position Within ythe ,opening 27 in leatl 3, which isV unitsv7 place ori'eading position for numbers'oi'l the .units denomination, is

on and movable With the computingl wheel. 7 to and from reading position.

Each and every two-digit number or plural-digit number iii `said correlated groupspr columns ofv numbers on the stationary member or tablet l' is contained in a group or in each of a 'plurality'ot saidv groups or columns the corresponding num-l bers or group-distinguishing title numbers for which, when added togetherffunits to units upon theunits ivheel ,7 tobe exposed in reading position-in. units opening Q7 and tens to'tens, upon the tens wli'eelthto` be'eXposed' in reading position, `iii tens7 place Withinthe tens opening in the backA leaf 3 `WillI produceor equal that tivoa'ligit number, and 1n no other group or column.

And every such number so to be produced, or Which is4 to be'selected and found, or as' certained and revealed Land Which containsa plurality ol'vdlgits` has one of the units denomination, and they other ot the .tensdenomination, the digit of units denominationlbeing on the units, computing Wheel 7, andthe digit ofthe tensdenomi.

nation being, by preference, von the rotative computing wheel or tens wheel 8.

,The device isfadapted and intended for use in playing a game, or one or more games unknown to the operator, Which selected` .nuu'ibers are to be tound anddisclosedby or with tl a :iid olf mechanical means, :for example, by adding numbers ou the rotative computing` wheel or wheels which represent or correspond with thetitle numbers or group-distiiiguishing nun'ibei's ofi the group or groups or columns in which such selected numbers are contained. v

In operation, any desired number contained in the series ot correlated groups or columns of numbers on the tablet, is selected as the number to be 'found and disclosed by the operator, such, 'for example, as the miniber representing' the agent the poison who selects such number and which may be unknown to the operator.

Theperson whose age .is to be 'found and disclosed, or who has in mind the nun'iber which is to be 'found and disclosed, indicates or. states Awhich group or column or columns ot the correlated nimiei'ically distinguished or nuu'ierically related groups contain the number so selected and which is to be v'found or ascertained and disclosed by the operator, by or with the aid ot the mechanical means herein described.y And miniliers corresponding with or representing the groups or columns in which such number or numbers so to be found and disclosed are contained, are added together Iand presented andexposed in reading position upon the computing wheel or wheels, by turning such till wheel or wheels containing the number or containing numbers which are components ot the selected number, and which, when added together will produce the selected number or numbers,

For example, it ones agey appears in' turnino said wheel threenotclies or nunibersK for column 3, thereby adding' Si toV l, making" Il which is presented in reading' position on' Wheel 7 Within the opening 28, then turning said-wheel 7 tour notches orv numbers, to add et, making 8, and causing thel'igure 8 to be Y vpresented inreading positionon said Vunits mnnsE, F,.G, and H, correspondving groupdistinguishing nun'ibers for Which are arranged iu numerical order on said tens wheel, as already*describedrthus bringing the 'digit l on the tenswneel to Vreading` position within vthe openingI 28.

The number, which :in'thisninstanceis a two-digitinun'iber,v thus found and `displayed in readiingl position, is -18. And 18 is the selected number, or numberrepresei'iting the age to be found and disclosed.

In turning the computing Wheels theinger ot the operator is placed in the proper peripheral notch on the wheel or `Wheels y7 and 8 the notches being indicated by the adjacent graduation marks'andlet-ters, and the who-el is tui-ned until the movement ofthe linger and oi? the wheel is stopped by an adjacent stationary notch l5 or 16, as the Case may be, ou the edge of the tablet, the initial positions of thewheels 7 position. v Y

lft' ones age, or the selected number to be found and disclosed is in groups or columns il, C, D, F and G, theage or selected number is-Q, and is found and disclosed v by the operation of the device asV above described. The directions for the operation o'f the device are printed'on the front leal 2 ot the tablet l in'space 29, or -in any place suitable for the purpose. Anda space .30 provided on the back leaf 3, forcontaining advertising mattei', or other printed netter, or picturesot or relating to things to be advertised, oi' Afor containing anything which is to be displayed thereon. The sheet l provides both inner and outer surfaceswhich may contain printed or other matter; and the margin l may be out to separate the front and back leaves 2 and 3 along that margin, if desired, thevleaves beingvheldl together by the eyelets 6.

lY claim:

l. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tablet provided Awith a series ot correlated groups of numbers, each ol said groups being provided with a group* distinguishing mark, a rotative computing member mounted on said tablet and provided with a series of numbers on and movable with said rotative member, peripheral notches on the rotative member adjacent to and 8 being, of v course, with O on each wheel uri-reading f Bil said movable numbers and equally spaced u apart, and graduation marks V'on the tablet and corresponding with said groupfdistinf guishing marks, said graduation marks be-` ing equally spaced apart and each being normally adjacent to a predetermined notch and corresponding number on said rota-tive member.

2. In a device ot' the class described, the

combination of a. tablet provided with a,

member, and graduation marks on the tabletV and adjacent to said movable numbers onV said rotative member, and equally spaced apart, each of said graduation marks beingr related to a corresponding group-distinguishing character and acting to indicate the extent of movement of the rotative member required to cause acorresponding number on said rotative member to move from normal initial position to reading position.

3. In a device of the class described, the con'ibination of a. tablet provided with a series ot' correlated groups of numbers, a rotative member mounted on said tablet and provided With ayseries of numbers thereon comprising the ten digits arranged in consecutive numerical order and equally spaced apart, peripheral notches on the rotative member comprising a notch for each of said digits respectively, said notches being equally spaced apart, and graduation marks on the tablet adjacent to the notched peripheral margin of said rotative member and equally spaced apart, said g'aduation marks representing corresponding correlated groups vof' numbers in said series ot groups and indicating the notches to be engaged in the operation of turning the rotative member to move predetermined numbers thereon inprodetermined order, and means on the tablet for indicating the reading position for the numbers on the rotative member.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tablet provided with a sies of correlated groups of numbers, a rotative computing member mounted on said tablet and provided With a series of numbers thereon comprising the ten digits arranged in consecutive numerical order and equally spaced apart, peripheral notches on said rotative member comprising a notch. for each of said numbers respectively, said notches being equally spaced apart and adapted to be engaged by.` the 'operator in the operation of turning the rotative member to move a predetermined number thereon toreading position, graduation marks 011 the tablet adjacent to the notched peripheral margin ot said rotative member and equally spaced apart, said marks representing corresponding related groups of numbers in said series ot' groups, means on the tablet for indicating the reading position of numbers on the rotative member, and `means for stopping the rotative member in position to present a predetermined number thereon in reading position.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of'a tablet provided with a series of numerically correlated groups o1' columns of numbers thereon, and a plurality of rotative computing members mounted on said tablet, each of said rotative members having a series of numbers thereon comprising the ten digits arranged in successive numerical order, each of said digits being movable to and adapted'to be stopped in reading position selectively, for finding and disclosing a number' identical with any predetermined corresponding selected number contained in said series of correlated'groups of numbers.

6. In a device of the class described, t-he combination of a tabl-et provided with a series or' numerically related groups or colunms of numbers thereon, a. plurality of ro tative members mounted on saidrtablet, each of said rotative members having a seriesof numbers thereon comprising the ten digits arranged in numerical order, said digits being movable With the rotative members on which they are conta-ined to reading position and adapted to be stopped in reading position selectively, for finding and disclosing Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook f and State of Illinois this 31st day of July, 1926.

ERNEST C. DES ENFANTS. 

